EFCA Theology Podcast

How should we think about suffering and evil? More specifically, which biblical truths should we plant deep in our hearts before we find ourselves in the midst of suffering? On this episode of the podcast we share a lecture by D.A Carson on this important topic. Rather than giving us pointers on how to endure suffering after it has begun, Dr. Carson provides six foundational pillars that will help us think rightly about suffering before it has come upon us.D.A. Carson serves as Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.We want to say a special word of thanks to Trinity International University for giving us permission to share this and other resources with EFCA pastors and church leaders through our podcast. This lecture comes from Trinity’s Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding. Many other helpful resources from The Henry Center can be found here.

In 2002, the EFCA Theology Conference sought to examine the biblical and theological issues related to leadership in the local church. On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that conference by Dr. Steven Roy entitled, "The Pastor as Theologian and Practitioner." In his message, Dr. Roy calls Christian leaders to minister as both theologians who carefully study and apply of God’s word and practitioners who diligently take up the many and various tasks of pastoral ministry.Dr. Roy serves as Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.

Faithful Christian leaders know that their preaching and teaching of God’s Word needs to communicate both the meaning of Scripture in light of the Bible’s big, overarching story of redemption as well as help us understand, in basic categories, what we should believe and how we should live. On this episode of the podcast, we share a conference message by Dr. Graham Cole entitled, “Think Biblically, Preach Systematically.” In this message, Dr. Cole helps us understand our preaching and teaching in light of the relationship between Biblical Theology, which focuses on understanding the meaning of the text and Systematic Theology, which helps us understand (in organized categories) what we should believe and how we should live.Dr. Cole serves as Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology and is the Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.

We often think of Revelation 20 merely as the biblical chapter that is devoted to the Millennium. According to D.A. Carson, however, it is a passage that is “primarily about the defeat of Satan, his associates and his followers.” On this episode of the podcast we share a conference message by Dr. Carson on Revelation 20 that will help us better understand both the passage's teaching on the Millennium and its broader teaching on the future defeat of all who oppose God and reject his gospel. This message was recorded at the 2012 EFCA Great Lakes District Conference. Dr. Carson serves as Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.Special thanks to the Great Lakes District of the EFCA for allowing us to share this message. You can find out more about GLD here.

Many people (including some within our EFCA family) are surprised to learn that we allow the practice of both believer’s baptism and infant baptism in our churches. To help us better understand our commitment to unity on this issue, the 2005 EFCA Theology Conference took up the task of examining “Baptism and the EFCA.” On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that conference by Dr. Scott Manetsch, which provides a helpful historical overview of the doctrine and practice of baptism, from the early church through the Reformation.Scott serves as Professor of Church History at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Do you consider culture to be the friend or enemy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? In 2014, the EFCA Theology Conference wrestled with questions like this as it took up the theme of "Christian Faithfulness in a Changing Culture." On this episode of the podcast, we share a thought-provoking conference message from Leith Anderson titled, “Evangelicals in 21st Century American Culture.” In this message, he challenges church leaders to think carefully about the enduring issue of how we should understand the relationship between culture and the gospel.Leith served as the senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, for 35 years before retiring in 2011. He currently serves as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals.You can find more from the 2104 EFCA Theology Conference here.

“We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.” Article 2, EFCA Statement of FaithAt the burning center of our faith is the belief that God’s Word is “to be believed in all that it teaches.” But what do we really mean? Where and how does the Bible teach this truth? And perhaps most pressing, does our belief in the truthfulness and authority of Scripture really make a practical difference in life and ministry? On this episode of the podcast we share an interview with Dr. Doug Huffman from BIOLA University on this important topic.Doug serves at Biola as Professor of Biblical & Theological Studies as well as Associate Dean of Biblical & Theological Studies. He is ordained by the EFCA and is a member of EvFree Fullerton.

Have we let the "how" of ministry replace the "what" and the "why?" Have we lost our sense of urgency for gospel-centered disciplemaking in the local church? On this episode of the podcast, we share a 2015 EFCA One conference message from Dr. Crawford Loritts in which he challenges us to wrestle with these questions and remember the urgency of our calling.Dr. Loritts is the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA and a visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.You can find more information about the upcoming 2017 EFCA One Conference here.

These are uncertain times. Anyone with eyes to see is aware that we are living in an unstable, rapidly changing culture. On this episode of the podcast, we share a conference message from EFCA President Kevin Kompelien titled, “A Solid Foundation in Uncertain Days.” In this message, Kevin reminds us that the way forward will not be found through a clever strategy or slick plan, but rather in the foundation stones of our movement: the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Kevin shared this message at the 2016 Northern Plains District Conference. You can find more resources from the conference here.

“We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.” Article 4, EFCA Statement of FaithThere is a vital, unbreakable connection between the Old Testament and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our movement affirms this connection when we confess that Jesus is “Israel’s Promised Messiah.” However, most of us would admit that our 21st century ears do not fully grasp the significance of these three powerful words. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the belief that Jesus is “Israel’s Promised Messiah” with Dr. David Talley.Dave serves as Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies and chair of the Old Testament Department at Biola University. For many years he also served as a teaching pastor at Grace EFC in La Mirada, CA.